By Christina B. Farnsworth The nonprofit Center for a New American Dream, in Takoma Park, Md., found that nearly two-thirds of Americans would conserve energy if they knew it had measurable effects. Half would drive 20 fewer miles a week, preventing emission of 87 billion pounds of carbon dioxide annually. Seventy percent would install energy-efficient light bulbs, avoiding the emission of 72.5 billion pounds of carbon dioxide each year. The Center’s “Turn the Tide” Web site program demonstrates benefits of nine simple everyday actions using a real-time online calculator.
By simply driving less and using energy-efficient bulbs Americans could reach nearly 6 percent of reductions necessary to meet Kyoto Protocol emissions targets. Check www.newdream.org for more information.